Every state has different rules for filing deadlines, fault, and no-fault insurance — and they genuinely do change. This is a state-by-state directory we keep honestly current, verified against primary sources with a visible date on every page.
Every state applies a different rule for shared fault — and the differences are bigger than most people expect. Hover or tap any state for the verified deadline and fault rule, sourced directly from the statute.
49
States verified against the statute
5
Distinct fault-rule systems in use
4
States still using pure contributory negligence
1
State with a rule found nowhere else (SD)
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Prefer a list? The full A–Z directory is further down this page.
A note on New York
New York is under review
New York's fault rule is changing, and we're holding the dedicated state page until the position settles in case law rather than publish something that may be out of date within weeks. In the meantime, New York uses a 3-year filing deadline for personal injury claims. We'll publish the full page as soon as the change is confirmed.
Why this matters
Three things that differ by state
How long you have to file.
The statute of limitations ranges from about one year to six or more, depending on the state.
What happens if you were partly at fault.
Comparative negligence rules vary, and some states bar recovery entirely past a fault threshold.
Whether it's a no-fault state.
In no-fault states, you generally claim through your own insurer first, regardless of who caused the crash.
Car accident law is set state by state, not federally, so what applies to your accident depends entirely on where it happened. We built this directory because getting it right matters more than almost anything else on this site — a wrong deadline or a misunderstood fault rule can cost someone their claim. Every page below carries a visible "last verified" date, and we don't publish a state until we can back every fact with a primary source.
Laws change with little warning. New York's fault rule for auto cases changed by statute in May 2026 — which is exactly why we date-stamp every page rather than publish once and forget it.
Each state page is checked against the actual statute text where possible, or against reputable secondary sources that themselves cite the statute. We log the source, the date checked, and re-check on a regular cycle — more details in our Editorial Policy. If a state's law is in flux (recently changed, or under legislative review), we hold that page back rather than guess.
The national picture
If you'd rather start with the general concepts before drilling into your state, these cover the same ground nationally:
We only publish a state once we can verify its filing deadline, fault rule, and no-fault status against primary sources. We're working through states in order of how many people are searching for them, and we'd rather be accurate than fast.
How often is this updated?
Live state pages are rechecked on a regular cycle, and immediately if we become aware of relevant legislation. Every page shows the date it was last verified.
Is this legal advice?
No — this is general information to help you understand the landscape. For advice on your specific situation, speak with a licensed attorney in your state.
Sources & how we keep this accurate
Compiled and verified by The Accident Advisory editorial team against primary statute text and reputable secondary sources. Last reviewed July 2026. (See our Editorial Policy.)
State statutes, as cited on each individual state page.
American Bar Association (ABA) — state law variation in personal injury. americanbar.org (accessed June 2026).
The Accident Advisory provides free, general information and is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. State laws change — sometimes with little notice — and this page reflects our understanding as of the "last verified" date shown. Always confirm current law or speak with a licensed attorney in your state before relying on this for a decision.
